Poland, a country with one of the oldest universities in Europe, is vibrant with student life today. Your students will gain knowledge here in specialised fields of science by combining education with travel, fun and getting to know new people. That means delving into history and art, visits to factories, learning new technologies combined with many leisure attractions, such as bowling, treasure hunting, swimming, cinema and theatre visits, concerts and much much more ...

Day 1: Kraków

On arrival you will be taken from the airport and transferred to your hotel. Overnight stay in Kraków.

Day 2: Kraków

In the morning we will take you on a sightseeing tour of the Old Town during which you will discover the beauty of magical Kraków. As you walk along the Royal Way you will observe how Polish culture has been shaped over long centuries. You will marvel at the Market Square, the biggest of its kind in Europe,the Sukiennice Cloth Hall, St. Mary’s Church, the Jagiellonian University and Wawel Hill. At noon you will hear the KrakówHejnał (bugle call) played by a fireman trumpeter, who can be seen in a gothic window in the highest tower of St. Mary’s Church. From the tower of Wawel Cathedral, where you will touch the largest bell in Poland, the Sigismund Bell, you will be able to enjoy a wonderful view of the Old Town. The district of Kazimierz lies south from Wawel Hill. Since the 16th century it has been the principal cultural centre of the Jewish communitywith its own exotic flavour. Its soul perished during the traumatic events of the Second World War but many of its buildings, some still with Yiddish inscriptions, survived. Today Jewish life and culture is undergoing a revival in Kazimierz, as is visible in the number of restored buildings in the district and in fashionable cafes, restaurants and bars filled with tourists from all over the world and curious to learn more about Jewish culture. Highlights include Szeroka Street where “Schindler’s List” was filmed, Isaac, High, and Old Synagogues, Remuh Synagogue and Cemetery, and the “Pod Orlem” Pharmacy. In the afternoon we can offer you a trip to the Wieliczka Salt Mine or, alternatively, one of our customised themed tours.

Overnight stay in Kraków.

Day 3: Auschwitz – Birkenau

Today we will take you to Auschwitz-Birkenau – Museum of Martyrdom.

Experience one of the most memorable places in modern European history. The Auschwitz-Birkenau museum comprises the two preserved camps of Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II - Birkenau. The visit includes a film showing the camp’s liberation, the flower-strewn Death Wall, the national memorials, the railway track and ramp and the remains of hundreds of barracks, all of which form a moving testament to the number of lives lost as a result of Nazi atrocities throughout occupied Europe.

After you return to your hotel you will have free time to relax or, if you wish, listen to a talk about the tour.

In the evening we invite you to a Jewish-style dinner in Kazimierz. Overnight stay in Kraków.

Day 4: Kraków

Departure.

Suggested themed tours and trips:

History Tours:

The World War II Tour includes a study visit to Auschwitz (day trip) and a chance to meet a witness of the Holocaust or one of the Righteous Among Nations.

The Following in the Footsteps of Communism tour includes a trip to Nowa Huta where you will see famous Huta Stali Steelworks. Nowadays Nowa Huta is a district of Kraków, but during the communist era it was originally intended to be a separate city and a great centre of heavy industry in Poland. You will visit the Nowa Huta Ecomuseum. We will also take you back in time and organise a tasty lunch for you at a “milk bar”, a relic of Poland’s years of socialism.

The Study tours involve visits to institutions of higher education in Kraków with private lectures organised on selected subjects,

The Business in a Developing Countryt our includes a visit plus lecture in on one of Polish more established companies,

The Engineering/Factory tour includes a visit to a factory plus a short lecture on production and logistics, an educational trip to Czorsztyn, including a visit to the local dam,

The Media tour takes you to a local radio station, newspaper office,

The Theatre, Drama & Art tour offers a visit to one of the universities (Drama, Music or Art Universities in Kraków), where we will organise meetings with Polish students, a tour of the Art Museum plus an optional visit to the theatre/opera,

The Sports tours are active excursions during which you can take part in football, handball, and volleyball matches, etc, and they also guarantee you other sporting competitions with the local community,

The Active tours include such attractions as hiking, cycling, paddling ,

The Music tours are designed especially for amateur music groups who want to display their talents before Polish and international audiences,

The Social Work tours take young people to local hospices, children’s homes, care homes, foundations, penal institutions,

Politics and international relations is a tour tailored especially to the needs of those with a passion for politics and includes a visit to the Polish Parliament, a meeting with a local politician and a chance to have a discussion on selected topics,

Eco / agriculture tour includes a visit to one of PolishNational Parks and an agro-tourist farm,

Religions of the worldtour includes visits to places of worship for different religions ranging from the Roman Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant Churches to synagogues and visits to abbeys and monasteries.